Plugins (VST, AU, RTAS) for 8-bit sound

To use these virtual 8-bit sound synthesizers and effects, you need a plugin host like FL Studio, Renoise or others... For info, SAVIhost is a good free standalone VST plugin host for Windows. Perfect to test VST plugins !

This version is the update to the popular basic64, redesigned from scratch, with many improvements, new features and all new presets. basic65 was co-developed with sink, who also made the amazing presets.

Note: I can not share this product here because the licence unauthorised me. (Woolyss)

The Bitsmacker is a digital distortion swiss army knife for applying digital crust to your otherwise pristine audio signal. It Can simulate vintage samplers, classic video game systems, and other lo-fi paraphenalia. At extreme settings, it warps your audio with power you couldn't get from a stomp box or full stack.

Bleep[windows, VST]

INST, Free

Bleep is a free VSTi synthesizer plug-in for Windows which inspired by the sound of MOS Technology SID from Commodore 64 (C64). At the same time Bleep is not emulator of this chipset but only partially similar to its architecture.

It emulates SPC700 (the S-SMP's integrated 8-bit CPU core manufactured by Sony with an instruction set similar to that of the MOS Technology 6502 (as used in the Commodore 64 and Vic 20, Apple II, BBC Micro and the original NES). You can import .spc super nintendo music track and use the instruments contained.

This virtual synth produces old school electronical sounds and features a graphical wavetable editor. Chip32 has many midi control options, described in the readme. Additionally, there are an ADSR envelope, a basic filter and a bitcrusher. Good to emulate Nintendo Entertainment System (NES/Famicom) soundchip !

A GUI-less MIDI processing plugin that turns full chords into proper chiptune arpeggios using pitch bend messages. Requires target synth plugin to support pitch bend depth of at least 12 semitones up/down, and instant response to the pitch bend changes (without smoothing), so it does not work with any VSTi. Confirmed to work well with 1bitstudio, VST2413, and VT2i plugins.

Decimator[windows/mac, VST/AU]

FX (Bitcrusher), Free

Decimator is a little effect plugin that consists of a bit quantizer and sample rate reducer followed by a LP/HP filter. Midi-controllable.

Dream 64 is not a sid emulator. It is just a VST plugin that can recreate sounds that are used in chip-music. It is inspired on the SID chip from the old but good Commodore C64. Of course with some extra features for the fun.

Atari 2600 soundchip emulation. It emulates noises producted by the Atari TIA soundchip. Just turn the "sample" and "hold" dials to change the noises. the red buttons on the left (next to
those tan rectangles) control the various wave shapes.

A VST instrument using the DOSBox OPL2 emulation. The OPL2 is a simple 2-operator digital FM sound chip from the late 80s, used in PC sound cards like the Adlib and original Sound Blaster. This VST instrument allows you to program an emulated OPL2 chip.

The Multiband Bitcrusher effect is a 4-band bit reduction / downsampler vst plugin. The 4 frequency bands can be operated independently and processed through the bitcrusher and the downsampler.

Neochip[windows, VST]

INST, Free

Neochip is a simple subtractive synth beginning by emulating the 2A03 chip used in the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES/Famicom), and ending with an effects chain which allows you craft
more modern sounds. Neochip is best suited to creating deep grimey basslines and bold retro stlye leads and pads.

NeoRetro DX (DX = deluxe) is a synthesizer designed to create sound reminiscent of SID (Commodore 64) or 8-Bit Nintendo music, combined with features designed to enhance these traditional
sounds beyond the hardware limitations of their era.

peach is a synthesizer based on the classic PSG processor of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES/Famicom). More than 30 waveforms from many memorable sounds and tones have been
meticulously deconstructed and tamed.

Quantum 64 is a harsh and aliased digital synth with single DCO and multimode filter. It is inspired by Commodore 64's SID sound chip but it definitely is no emulation. The two special
ingredients that make the soul of Quantum 64 are the arpeggiator and the degrader/quantiser unit.

Redu(p)cer[windows, VST]

FX (Bitcrusher), Free

It is a bit reduction effect using a very cool control set up that allows you to morph between five presets at a time. By assigning a midi controller you can get some really interesting
automation effects in realtime.

Retro Boy is a virtual analog chiptune synth/emulator. Chiptune or otherwise known as 8-bit music is music or sounds synthesized by the sound chip of computers, video game systems, and most handled gaming systems.

TAL-Bitcrusher is a common bitcrusher with some useful additions. There is a low- and highshelf EQ and a noise cross modulator included. Its maybe useful on drums, especially hats and for distorted leads.

thrummaschine[windows, VST]

FX (Bitcrusher), Free

thrummaschine is a 3-band distortion effect with independant, LFO-driven filters. Make your bass, mid and high frequencies oscillate at different speeds, shapes and pan, with whatever flavour and level of distortion you dial in for each band.

Timemachine[windows, VST]

FX (Bitcrusher), Free

TimeMachine is a VST plugin that provides accurate reproduction of the characteristic sound of vintage samplers, such as the Commodore 64, or older Akai samplers. The (virtual) sampling
rate can be varied, as well as the number of bits used for digital representation. furthermore, aliasing distortion can be generated individually for AD and DA conversion.

toad[windows, VST]

INST, Free

toad is a drumkit based on the classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES/Famicom). Excellent quality percussive bits are here in abundance.

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES/Famicom) soundchip emulation. There are only three wave types: square, triangle, and noise. There is also a simple arpeggiator for making classic 8-bit
sounding tunes.

Unicycle is an 8-bit wav-synth with 300 four-cycle waveforms to choose from, inspired by Niffla's
Four Cycle Synth. The awesome filter is by Rick Jelliffe and there's also sample-rate and bit-rate reducers and a great decimator by Antto.

A GUI-less FM synthesizer based on YM2413 (OPLL) sound chip emulator. The well known low-cost FM sound chip was used on Sega Master System, FM-PAC sound expansion cartridge for MSX, and as one of Famicom sound expansion chips (VRC7).

This is a VST that uses code which emulates the sound chip found inside of the Sega Genesis/Megadrive systems. It's the closest you can get to the real thing currently without actually circuit bending a Genesis. If you don't know/care what a Genesis is, this VST is basically a 4 operator FM synth.